The benefits of valsartan (Val)/hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) combination as initial treatment for hypertension were evaluated in a post hoc analysis of an 8-week, doubleblind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial. The highest dose of Val/HCTZ combination (320/25 mg), component monotherapies (Val 320 mg, HCTZ 25 mg) and placebo were selected for this analysis (N ¼ 675, 52.1% men, 68.6% Caucasians, mean age 52.9 years, baseline blood pressure (BP) 150.6/99.1 mm Hg). As soon as 2 weeks after initiation of active therapy, greater BP control rates were observed with Val/HCTZ (320/25 mg) compared with Val (320 mg), HCTZ (25 mg) and placebo. Similar results were observed in subgroups of patients with stage 1 and stage 2 hypertension, as well as in diabetic patients. As baseline BP increased, the probability of achieving mean sitting systolic BP (o140 and o130 mm Hg) and mean sitting diastolic BP control (o90 and o80 mm Hg), determined using a logistic regression model, decreased with all treatments. However, at all levels of baseline BP, the probability of achieving BP control was greater with Val/HCTZ combination. The Val/HCTZ combination was well tolerated with overall incidence of adverse events similar to that observed with monotherapy and placebo. These results support the use of Val/HCTZ combination as initial therapy in hypertensive patients unlikely to achieve BP control with a single agent.